The Soviet engineerߞhis life and living

Knowledge of the values, traditions, and habits that influence personal behavior can be a vital bridge between cultures. The IEEEߝPopov Society exchange delegations that have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in both directions since 1957 have been invaluable for increasing the exchange of such knowledge. Much has been published about the technical facets of this exchange, but less has been written about the more personal matters. This article considers the personal budget of the Soviet engineer: How much does he earn? How will his salary change with responsibility, education, and age? How can he augment this salary? What will his wife contribute to the family coffers? Where will the money go? How does his budget compare with that of his Western peers? Answers to these questions give some clue to the societal values and pressures in the U.S.S.R., help erase some of the mysteries about Soviet life, and contribute to better mutual understanding. United States information and statistics are used as a point of Western reference.